Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1887-12-30

ZEZULA,S LETTER.
Interesting Gossip Regarding Dakota and
Other Matters From the Ma
tional CAPITAL

tional Capital.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29s [Speciall-The
question as to what action will be taken by
congress in regard to Dakota is no doubt
the all-absorbing one to western readers.
But not caring to be ranked as false
prophet, have foreborne to make the
customary guesses relative thereto. The
truth is that congressman themselves do
not know what shape the territorial prob
lem will assume. Honorable gentlemen
have assured me that they would prefer
to put the whole question aside; but that
is rendered impossible by pressure al
ready being brought to bear in the cases of
Utah and Washington.
AS matters now look, even if Dakota is
allowed an enabling act" to tow her into
the Union, it will be hitched onto Utah
in such way, as to share the defeat that
the indignant religious sentiment of the
country-already aroused to earnest pro-
test to the admission of Utah, while the
Mormon priesthood are in the ascendency.
will surely bring to pass.
One OF the the peculiar features of the
Utah case is the presence here Of Mormon
women, cultivated and attractive ladies, who
plead the cause of their church and terri
tory in most effective manner. Argu-
ments in favor OF polygamy,. from a
bly,, especially when veiled with the
glamour of religious sentiment.
One of the peculiar characters of Wash
ingtOn is DR.. Mary Walker. who for the
last twenty years has worn mans ATTIRE
Now "Dr;" Mary IS not as might be sup
posed, fraud. She is a Irregular" physi-
clan with fairly earned diploma, and dur
the hospitals that congress, at the instance
OF Senator Sumner, gave her gold medal
and life pension. She then wore the
proper garments of her sex, but since then
has worn mems clothing. Her appearance
is most ridiculous: she has fine, pinched-up
features, with an old-maidish expression,
and struttlng about in aclose- fitting broad
cloth suit, boots, necktie and polished
shirt-front; with a little cane in her
hand and tall silk hat on her head, she
moves one irresistably to laughter.
Her motive in wearing so absurd costume
is variOusly set down to a desire for nOtori-
ETY.. or to insanity in mild form. She her
discourse by the hour, if you will listen to
her, on the superior advantage of her at
tire over the conventional dress of women.
The recent removal of the army medical
museum from "Ford's Theatre'' on Tenth
street to its new quarters in the Smithson-
ian Institute grounds has revived interest
in the locality where occurred the death of
President Lincoln. 1t will always be
regretted by the historian that Secretary
Stanton, instead of preserving intact so in
teresting place, should at once upon con-
fiscating the theatre have destroyed all
vestige OF the tragic Occurrance. But the
exterior of the building is unchanged, and
irrSf ifn ic hon who,
man breathed hisl asst. Through the courtesy
of Mr.. Schade, the proprietor, was shown
the room in which his death occurred few
hours after receiving the fatal shot, 1t is
a long narrow room, with very low cell
ing, on the first floor. The lower story or
basement is the Office of the Washington
Sentinel, Of which Mr. Schade is proprietor,
an ably conducted paper. Mr.. Schade is
also the attorney for the Brewers associa-
ton and skillfully checkmates the move
ments of the district w. C. T. u. to sesure
congressional action in regulating the local
saloon business. ,'...:.. ...
At the treasury department can be seen
the flag, a handsome silk standard. that
was used in decorating the box occupied
by the presidents party on that fatal night.
A long tear near the edge shows where
the spur of Booth caught in the folds and
caused the fall that resulted in broken
limb and his consequent capture in his
daring leap to the stage after firing his
fatal shot.
Another point of interest here is the Bal
timore & Potomac depot where Garfield
was shot, which events cOmmemorated by
a tablet on the wall and a star set into the
floor on the spot where he fell.
The presidents reception on New Years
day will usher in the social season, and
one is quite safe in predicting that this will
be winter Of unusual brilliancy.
I maid nv rpSnpotS tn the nrasidonf ar tho
white house this week and to General
Sheridan at the war department.. The gen.
eral's Office is fifty adorned with Indian
trophys and pictures of savage life-sug
gestive of his known fOndness for the west.
ZEZULA.